Today at Commission: Brexit, Poland and galette des rois

Commission refused to talk about: Whether the protests in Iran will be discussed at a meeting on Thursday between Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, plus the foreign ministers of the U.K., France and Germany.

Brexit: The Commission was “somehow surprised” by the reaction of U.K. Brexit Secretary David Davis to its preparation for all post-Brexit scenarios, including a no-deal outcome. The Commission was responding to a letter written by Davis to Prime Minister Theresa May in which he complained that the EU was taking “measures” that could jeopardize existing contracts or force British companies to leave the U.K. in case of a no-deal Brexit. When May said “no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain,” Commission chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas told the briefing, “We take those words very seriously.”

Poland: Asked if the EU is trying to calm tensions with Poland, against which the Commission has opened Article 7 proceedings, Schinas said: “The fact is that [Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker] said yesterday we’re not at war with Poland. There isn’t a battle, there isn’t a war. We don’t have to calm things down after such a battle.” Poland’s new Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will hold talks with Juncker on Tuesday evening.

“We want to engage with the new Polish prime minister … to find a constructive solution. We have intentionally provided for a period of three months that would allow for this,” Schinas said. Tuesday’s dinner meeting will be “the first of many discussions.”

Belgium: Asked if the Commission is involved in the controversy surrounding the Belgian immigration minister, who ordered asylum seekers be returned to Sudan, where they say their lives are at risk, Schinas said: “The Commission has not been contacted by the Belgian authorities on this. This is a purely national competence.”

Agenda: Atthisweek’s meeting of the College of European Commissioners, to be held on Wednesday, they will discuss: 2018 priorities, including reform of the economic and monetary union; borders; Europe’s asylum system; the digital single market; and the EU aspirations of Western Balkan countries.

Moment of the day: Schinas refused to explain Juncker’s comments on Polish and Hungarian attitudes toward asylum seekers, given in an interview with German broadcaster ARD.“When the president speaks, spokespersons shut up,” he said.

The spokesman also informed the press that the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier celebrated his 67th birthday with a galette des rois, a cake traditionally shared at the end of the Christmas season and meant to commemorate the arrival of the three wise men in Bethlehem.

Coming up: Juncker’s dinner with the Polish PM on Tuesday night.Budget Commissioner GüntherOettinger will provide a debrief on talks on the Multiannual Financial Framework on Wednesday.